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Premier Futsal League: Kolkata qualify for semi-finals

Mumbai beat Kochi in a thriller while Kolkata advanced to semis after draw against Bengaluru, Premier Futsal League

20.07.2016

Premier Futsal League

Kolkata 5's 1-1 Bengaluru 5's

Kolkata: Pula(7th)

Bengaluru: Jonathan

Day 2 of Premier Futsal in Goa saw Bengaluru 5s draw 1-1 with Kolkata 5s at the Pedem Sports Complex. The Bengaluru 5s needed a win to stay in the hunt for a semi-final spot and the result saw Kolkata seal a semi-final spot.

With Neto no longer in the Bengaluru squad, Tatu stepped in and did give Kolkata goalkeeper Cidao a couple of scares in the first quarter. The keeper, with his orthodox style of coming out of the box and even entering the opponent’s half to initiate attacks, was always on his toes when Bengaluru had the ball and made some fine saves.

Kolkata took the lead when they won a penalty after Hernan Crespo’s corner kick struck the hand of Maxi who was stationed in the D. Pula stepped up and fired it to the left and found the back of the net in spite of Elias diving in the right direction.

The shot simply had too much power as it whizzed past him to give Kolkata a 1-0 lead. Pula was dead set on scoring more and ended the first quarter with five shots. Even Cidao got into the act and had shots on goal that Elias palmed away with ease.

Bengaluru had some good build up play but failed to get enough shots on target. Kolkata were also guilty of simply striking the ball from a distance rather than move it around and find space.

Cidao’s forays into Bengaluru’s half almost cost Kolkata a goal when Elias launched a shot from his own area. The back-pedaling Cidao was in no position to make a save but Gabriel was on hand to back him up and head it away.

However, Bengaluru soon found the equaliser through Jonathan Piers. Cidao had parried a shot away but Bengaluru pounced on the rebound. With the Kolkata defence caught sleeping, Jonathan had an open goal to make it 1-1.

Scholes was trying his best to help Bengaluru find another and set up his teammates a few times in the fourth quarter. But no matter what they threw at Kolkata, Cidao was in no mood to concede another.

But his enthusiasm almost cost him when he punched a ball just outside the D. However, Bengaluru’s free-kick routine was disappointing and Kolkata survived and qualified for the semi-final.

Mumbai 5s beat Kochi 5s 6-4 in a thrilling game on Day 2 of Premier Futsal in Goa at the Pedem Sports Complex. With Mumbai already in the semi-finals, all Kochi needed was a point to qualify and ensure Chennai had no chance of finishing in the top two. But the result now gives Falcao’s side hope ahead of the final game.
The Kochi 5s took no time in taking the lead when Michel Salgado’s shot came off the post and the goalkeeper before Deives Moraes stationed at the far post tapped it in. However, Mumbai stormed right back and scored the equaliser within moments of conceding. Foglia’s quick feet and trickery saw him send two defenders the wrong way before a searing shot found the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.

But just before the hooter sounded for the end of a lively first quarter, Moraes retained the ball under pressure from three defenders and took the right moment to flick the ball back to Chaguinha who fired home beat Luis Amado and make it 2-1 to Kochi.

Kevin Ramirez made it 2-2 three minutes into the second quarter when his own throw-in was deflected into his path just outside the D. A powerful shot saw Casalone get his angles wrong as the ball rifled the net. A vociferous celebration followed as just minutes earlier Ramirez was having his ankle strapped up after twisting it in the first quarter.

The goals continued to flow as Devies Moraes got his sixth of the tournament after a sublime cross-field pass from Chaguinha. Ramirez was caught sleeping allowing Moraes to steal past behind him and finish calmly to give Kochi the lead. But just at the stroke of half-time, Foglia got his second of the night with a poacher’s goal. Casalone parried a shot right into his path and he couldn’t recover fast enough to make the save.

Mumbai then struck twice towards the end of the third quarter to take the game away from Kochi. Chanpreet scored his first goal of the tournament when he stationed himself in front of the goal and simply tapped in Foglia’s cross. Moments later, Angellot found himself in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper on a counter-attack and beat him with ease to make it 5-3.

Halfway through the final quarter, Chaguinha and Moraes carved open Mumbai’s defence with a neat one-two and Chaguinha grabbed his second of the night with substitute goalkeeper Federico Perez unable to get in the way of his effort. Though he made some fine saves, he lost his bearings and conceded a handball which saw Amado come back on for the final play.

Moraes stepped up to take the free-kick without a wall but Amado made a superb block and Mumbai soon countered to make it 6-4 through Manikkoth.

About
Debraj Banerjee

Hi, I am Debraj Banerjee from Adra, West Bengal. A keen follower of Indian football and always an optimist that the game will get the recognition it truely deserves. What we ask from you is your support and one day the dream might turn true. Fingers crossed for Indian football. Cheers!